Garbage collection: Mayor backtracks on his decision

HYDERABAD: Barely three days after Greater Hyderabad mayor Mohd Majid Hussain announced that door-to- door collection of garbage and its transportation would be handed over to Ramky in two municipal circles (4&5) of the Old City, he backtracked on his assurance on Monday.

Mayor Mohd Majid Hussain said the door-to-door collection and transportation would be taken up only with the consent of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Employees Union (GHMEU). The mayor gave a written assurance on Monday to GHMEU president U Gopal as they protested his decision to hand over works to Ramky during his visit to Hyderabad Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management project site in Jawaharnagar on Friday.

The mayor said he felt justified with the demands and concerns of the workers during the protest on Saturday and said there were thousands of outsourced employees working with the GHMC for the past 15 to 20 years and they should be converted as non-mustered roll (NMR) as was done by APSRTC. "The due consent from the unions is must for taking up works in any circle as it will pave the way for cordial relations with the Ramky and employees, who are apprehending unforeseen employment threat from Ramky," Majid Hussain said in his letter.

But analysts say the mayor made the statement of handing over regular sanitation works to Ramky without consulting even GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu and leaders suspect 'other intentions' behind it. The mayor said on Saturday that the agreement was made by the previous officers and court also cleared the case and the corporation had no option but to implement the order.

"First, there was no necessity for him to make a statement and again retract it. How can he give a letter on policy decision on handing over regular sanitation works to Ramky?" a floor leader said.

Meanwhile, the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department forwarded the issue pertaining to the oath taken by BJP's C Uday Kumar as Langar Houz corporator to the law department for their opinion. GHMC commissioner Krishna Babu had sent a detailed report on Saturday on the incidents that took place at the GHMC council and rule position on the oath by corporators.